Posts in category: Life Style

Love is Blind: Sweden returns for its second season, inviting a fresh cohort of Swedish singles to explore the depths of emotional connection without the influence of physical appearance. Hosted by Jessica Almenäs, this social experiment challenges participants to engage in heartfelt conversations within secluded pods, fostering bonds that transcend superficiality. Among the diverse cast are Alexander, a 30-year-old financial advisor; Alicia, a 31-year-old recruiter; Amanda, a 27-year-old fashion sales manager; and Anna, a 34-year-old middle school teacher.

Streaming on Netflix

The Wheel of Time season 3 (March 13)

Between awards season, film premieres, and gala events, our best-dressed stars have kept things bold on the red carpet, serving up some of their most high-glam looks to date. After all, these nights aren’t just about celebration—they’re where true fashion prowess is put to the test. We’re talking sequins, cut-outs, and a bevy of barely-there evening wear, served by A-listers like Sonam Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Mindy Kaling, and many more.

For starters, Sonam Kapoor embraced 1920s flapper-era glamour in a milky-white satin dress by Anamika Khanna, layered with tassels and a matching cape. Hand-painted florals—a signature of the designer—added an artisanal touch, while Kapoor’s choice to wear her jewels in reverse nodded to an emerging trend.

More notably, sequins, crystals, and other dazzling details had their moment this week. For the annual South Asian Oscar event, Mindy Kaling slipped into custom Rahul Mishra couture—a corseted sari-style gown with jharoka detailing—which she paired with radiant emeralds and diamonds from Effy Jewelry. Meanwhile, Banita Sandhu lit up the 33rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in an electric midnight-blue Georges Hobeika Couture Fall 2024 gown. She completed the high-glam look with a Judith Leiber disco ball clutch and diamond jewellery from Lisa Nik’s Diamond Game and Asymmetric collections.

A bolder take on the bob, this shorter version, stopping right at the chin, accentuates the jawline and cheekbones, adding a touch of playful chic. It’s a great option for those wanting a low-maintenance yet stylish look.

Pixie cut

A timeless symbol of nonconformity and chicness, the pixie cut is surprisingly versatile. From the gamine charm of Audrey Hepburn and Jean Seberg to the supermodel edge of Linda Evangelista, this cut can be tailored to suit any personality. Think effortless cool with minimal upkeep.

Curtain bangs

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Evoking a touch of French girl chic, curtain bangs scream effortless cool. These soft, parted layers delicately frame the face, drawing attention to the eyes and cheekbones. From Brigitte Bardot, who practically defined the look, to modern-day celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Selena Gomez, this style has remained timeless.

Long layers

Celebrities don’t tend to walk the red carpet without meticulous preparation. There are the hairstylists and their assistants, wielding tools, clips and tongs; working around the make-up artist (and their assistants) who, in turn, are working around the manicurists. Not to mention the styling team, additional friends and anyone else in the general vicinity. As Isabella Rossellini recently told British Vogue, “It’s pretty crazy!”

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So, when a star steps out sans the expected accoutrements (like Pamela Anderson, for example, who in recent years has sworn off make-up), it’s a refreshing change. This is exactly why Anya Taylor-Joy, Reneé Zellweger, and Nicola Peltz Beckham all eschewing nail polish has felt like such a step change this awards season.

Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images

Seen variously attending a Tiffany & Co. event in Paris, France, on the red carpet at the Italian premiere of Mad About the Boy, and on the front row at the Burberry autumn/winter 2025 show in London, each woman has seemingly done away with colourful manicures, choosing a ‘naked manicure’ of a short shape and sheer, glossy top coat instead.

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Perhaps they’re just taking a break from the norm because their nails need it? Respite for nail beds and cuticles exhausted by the cycle of constantly changing manicures? Or, perhaps it points to a real sea change – a doing away with the old standard of block colour or a classic French and embracing au naturel nails in the form of a naked manicure. It certainly looks as though the natural nail revolution has arrived.

This story first appeared on Vogue.com

Also read:

The biggest nail colour trends of 2025, according to experts

Malaika Arora and Janhvi Kapoor show off red nails and glossy lips in the best beauty looks of the week

30 of the best ever celebrity manicures

Tamannaah Bhatia is a creature of change. “There’s a phase where you consume content and then there’s a phase where you create, I think I’m in the phase of creation,” revealed Bhatia in a conversation with Vogue India in 2022. Ever since, the star has been serving looks on and off screen—from her stellar performances to her creative fashion choices, she has never shied away from trying new things.

Recently, Bhatia wore an Indo-Western outfit by Falguni Shane Peacock. The ensemble featured a floral quilted pattern with intricate thread work, giving it a layered appearance. Going for an overall retro vibe, she opted for a bold red lip and soft glam makeup. To complete her look, she also added a pop of colour with an emerald necklace from Joolry.

The internet’s current obsession? Protein. Starting the day off with protein for breakfast—AKA a meal with around 30 grams—can have a dramatically positive effect on your day. Studies show that having protein for breakfast can help one have a clearer mind, fewer PMS symptoms, more energy, and better concentration. Here’s how I was able to up my protein consumption, getting between 28 and 32 grams every morning. And after doing it for a month, spoiler alert: I have no plans to stop.

Why protein is so important

Most people have already internalised the importance of a protein-rich diet: Protein supports the body in building and repairing muscles, skin, and organs and helps in the production of enzymes and hormones that control our metabolism and immune system.

Protein is especially important for women because it helps regulate hormones like estrogen and progesterone, as well as plays a role in mood and sleep. A lack of protein can also lead to hormonal imbalances.

damircudic

How to get 30 grams of protein at breakfast

I used to eat a single boiled egg in the morning, which I now know is only 7 grams of protein. Here’s how I revamped my breakfast to make it bigger, better, and filled with lots of healthy, filling foods. I currently switch between three dishes to get enough protein for breakfast:

• An omelette made with three eggs, a cup of cottage cheese, and a side of cucumbers, avocado, and tomatoes
• 8 ounces of full-fat Greek yogurt topped with flaxseeds, organic berries, and a tablespoon of almond butter
• A recipe by Seline Pettersen that I stumbled across by chance: Boil 50 grams of rolled oats in unsweetened almond milk, add half a banana and mash with a fork, mix in cinnamon and berries (frozen organic berry mix), and finish with 8 ounces of cottage cheese. Yes, the cottage cheese sounds out of place, and I was also reluctant at first. But the combination of sweet and salty is heavenly—and everyone who’s tried it so far confirms this!

All three breakfast alternatives can be varied using spices or by changing their preparation, and they keep me full for several hours.

How a protein-filled breakfast has changed my life

Eating such a protein-rich meal first thing in the morning or mid-morning definitely gives me more energy throughout the day, something I noticed on day one. I also realised I’m never distracted by snacks at work, and I feel full until lunch. Consuming a higher amount of protein in the morning has brought much more calm into my day.

This story first appeared on Vogue.com

Also read:

Are you getting enough protein? Here’s how to tell, according to an expert

The secret to gaining more muscle may lie in a high-protein, healthy breakfast

The best time to eat breakfast, according to a nutritional expert

Meeting a potential partner should be exciting, but the nerves and pressure can easily make things… uncomfortable and intimidating. That’s where prepping a few questions for a first date can come in handy: A good one will prevent much-dreaded silence and maybe even spark some real chemistry.

“We ideally want conversations to flow organically,” says Payal Patel, a marriage and family therapist. But let’s be honest: You’re with a person you don’t know in an unfamiliar yet intimate setting, and the stress can be intense—especially when you’re worried about making a solid first impression or anticipating yet another dating horror story. Awkward silences are bound to happen, but Patel says the right questions for a first date can ease some of that initial tension and in a perfect world, eventually lead to smooth, engaging chats that feel organic, not scripted.

So if you’re hoping to skip the cliché small talk (Where do you live? What do you do for work? Tell me your life story?) and build a real connection, here are a few expert-approved options to help you break the ice and see if there’s potential for a second date.

First, what makes a “good” conversation starter?

No matter the topic, what’s important is that your conversation starters actually start conversations. For that reason, Rachel Zar, PhD, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist at Avid Intimacy in Chicago, tells SELF that it’s best to stick with open-ended questions that’ll invite more than just a one-word response. Instead of saying, “Do you want kids?” for instance, try, “How do you feel about having kids?” The latter opens the door to a real discussion rather than a potential dead end.

It also helps to lean into things you know they are into, Dr. Zar adds. Depending on how you connected, you probably already have a little background like the job they’ve had for five years, say, or their pets all over their dating profile. “People love talking about themselves, and they’ll light up when you mention things they’re passionate about,” she says.

However, conversations are a two-way street—even if you come up with the most thought-provoking questions, it doesn’t mean much if you’re not actively contributing. Chances are, they’ll probably ask a few predictable basics—how your day was, what your hobbies include, etc. In that case, Dr. Zar says “it can take the edge off to have a story or two ready about something that happened to you this week, or a personal interest you’re excited to talk about.” That way, you’re not left drawing a blank and adding to any awkward vibes.

In 2023, ‘bed rotting’ was touted as a revolutionary form of self-care against a culture that incentivises productivity. By 2024, ‘sleepmaxxing’—the pursuit of perfect sleep—was trending on TikTok. Research has identified Gen Z as the most stressed-out demographic, with an alarming increase in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Perhaps sleeping well is their way of reclaiming some control in a world where the odds are stacked against them. Hotels are rushing to get a slice of the pie too, marketing sleep programmes that promise elevated energy levels, a stronger immune system, improved memory, and, as per Six Senses Vana, even ‘a youthful glint in your eye’. At The Ananta Udaipur, ‘hush pillows’ made from duck feathers shape themselves to the contours of the guest’s head to facilitate better-quality sleep. Ananda in the Himalayas offers a 21-night sleep enhancement programme that combines lifestyle changes, dietary corrections, Ayurveda therapies and traditional Chinese medicine. Last year, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group appointed Malminder Gill as its inhouse ‘sleep concierge’, with each consultation followed by a bespoke sleep-inducing hypnosis session.

For my part, I’ve thankfully never had any trouble dozing off. Every late night I’ve spent awake in bed has been of my own volition. Mumbai-based Dr Nupur Jhunjhunwala warns me that this will be my undoing as I grow older. “How long does it take you to fall asleep?” she asks during our consultation at Somniawise Sleep Clinic in Kemps Corner. “Barely two minutes, once I’ve finished whatever I’m watching at 3am,” I say with a smirk. “That’s not good,” she chides. “Sleep latency is the time it takes for us to doze off once we get into bed.” Apparently, our bodies need to enter the various sleep stages—N1, N2, N3 and REM—gently and in the correct proportions for quality slumber. “Falling asleep immediately after looking at a screen or reading online is almost like numbing your mind into unconsciousness rather than lulling it to sleep,” Dr Jhunjhunwala continues. Thankfully, she shows clemency in her attempt to rewire my brain.

My first task? Sleeping at 1am instead of 3am. I was willing to try. The non-negotiable was winding down by 11.30pm—the time when my creative console starts to glow brightest—to reduce my sleep latency. On my first attempt, I was so wired that my partner had to tell me a bedtime story. On night two, I tried visualising a monster at the foot of my bed, in the hope that the fear would force me to sleep. Strangely, it worked. I relapsed on my third and fourth attempts, however, and self-soothed with my Kindle.

On day eight, I woke up without the trill of my alarm clock. On the weekend, I shocked my oldest friends by suggesting that we meet for breakfast at 7am. It felt like a fever dream to see their faces lit by the soft morning sun rather than the strobe lights of a bar. All this is not to say that I’ve transformed from a night owl into a morning lark. The moon has bewitched writers and poets for centuries but I’m beginning to see the shared charm of waking up with the rest of the world, ready to take on the day together. You know what? Let me sleep on it.

Also read:

8 simple tips to help you sleep better on a warm night

You can feel refreshed even after a sleepless night, according to experts

I tried this surprising hack and finally fixed my insomnia

Back in 2016, a fragrance went viral as Rihanna’s favourite—an almost dessert-like warm vanilla-marshmallow scent called Love Don’t Be Shy by Kilian Paris. For founder and perfumer, Kilian Hennessy, every one of his brews is rooted in a personal story or memory. “Angel’s Share, for example, was my olfactory memory of the Hennessy Cognac Cellars. I have a story for every scent.” Paris’ fragrances, all unisex, are designed around moods and moments rather than specific wearers.

Seated in a sunlit room, Hennessy is relaxed when he explains in a matter-of-fact way that perfume is as much about seduction as it is about protection. “When you go on a date, you want to make yourself attractive. You wear clothes that look good, and similarly, you want a scent that flatters. But it’s not that when you go to work in the morning.” For him, fragrance is deeply personal. “When I apply perfume before leaving the house, it feels that I am creating a bubble, a shield between my body, my intimacy and the outside world.” This duality—between attraction and self-preservation—defines Kilian’s approach to perfume-making.

Vogue spoke to the founder ahead of his launch in India.

Vogue India: The perfume bottles have an interesting design. How involved are you in designing them?

Kilian Hennessy: I like beautiful objects, so I design what I think I would love to own myself. For example, the bottle of Angel’s Share is meant to look like a cognac glass—that’s an olfactory family we call the liquors in the bottle. What was most important to me is that all the bottles I create had to be refillable because I believe that true luxury should not be disposable.

VI: You’ve talked a lot about the concept of a “wardrobe of scents.” What does this mean to you?

KH: Imagine me lying on the couch reading a book on a Sunday afternoon by the fire in winter; I want a scent that would be cosy and warm. In summer, I probably want a cologne that’s very sparkly and fresh. You know, I have scents that correspond to different moments in the year.

VI: With advancements in technology like AI, how do you see the crafting of scents evolving?